Functional Medicine

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century.  By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.

Hallmarks of a functional Medicine approach include:

• Patient-centered care.  The focus of functional medicine is on patient-centered care, promoting health as a positive vitality, beyond just the absence of disease.  It supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.

• An integrative, science based healthcare approach.

• Root cause analysis.  Functional Medicine practitioners look "upstream" to consider the complex web of interactions in the patients history, physiology, and lifestyle that can lead to illness.  The unique genetic makeup of each patient is considered, along with both internal (mind, body and spirit) and external (physical and social environment) factors that affect total functioning.  It involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease.

• Multiple Modalities.  Functional medicine incorporates western medical practices with what are sometimes considered "alternative" or "integrative" medicine. A focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, exercise; the use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques may be utilized to address health concerns.